National Talent Bank will boost volunteering

Gordon Brown announced this week the launch of The National Talent Bank, an initiative to promote and encourage volunteering amongst the ‘under-employed’ – employees who have more time to share as a consequence of reduced working hours.

Gordon Brown announced this week the launch of The National Talent Bank, an initiative to promote and encourage volunteering amongst the ‘under-employed’ – employees who have more time to share as a consequence of reduced working hours.

TimeBank and Business in the Community are working in partnership with the Prime Minister’s Council on Social Action to develop the initiative, using their complementary expertise of volunteering and the private sector.

The Prime Minister said: “The Government will do all it can to support this very British tradition of volunteering, and National Talent Bank will make it easier for people with valuable skills to volunteer and put their abilities to good use.

“Volunteers themselves benefit, as do the people they help and the country as a whole. So I welcome the National Talent Bank and wish it every success.”

Helen Walker, chief executive of TimeBank, said: “The National Talent Bank will introduce volunteering to a whole new set of people as a result of working reduced hours. We think that volunteering could be part of the answer to help solve the issues that employers, employees and local communities find themselves in as a result of the recession.

“We know that volunteering is a hugely rewarding and fulfilling experience and communities are in need of people’s time and skills more than ever.”

Stephen Howard, chief executive of Business in the Community, said: “We are proud to be working in partnership with TimeBank and the Council on Social Action to develop this important initiative.

“The National Talent Bank can help make it easier to harness the increased time some employees have in which to volunteer with the increased need that exists within communities for skilled and practical help.”